Clay Archives: Material Design as a Graphic System
TianChen Deng’s series, Clay Archives, employs clay as a design medium to develop a visual system where the material itself bears the entire visual significance, eliminating the need for illustrations, typography, or layout grids. This collection consists of 29 images showcasing soft clay blocks, archive labels, receipts, and torn paper pieces, all illuminated by consistent studio lighting that casts deep shadows to highlight texture. The methodology adheres to a strict set of rules, varying solely in arrangement and material prominence. Drawing inspiration from Bauhaus foundational studies and early 20th-century object photography, the archive labels and receipts provide a personal touch. Featured in Behance's Best of Behance gallery, the series illustrates that clay can create a cohesive visual system without digital assistance, maintaining material logic throughout.
Key facts
- Clay Archives is a 29-image series by TianChen Deng.
- The series uses clay material design as a graphic system without illustration, typography, or layout grids.
- Materials include soft clay blocks, archive labels, receipts, and torn paper fragments.
- Directional studio lighting creates hard shadows that emphasize texture.
- The visual system follows consistent rules with variation in arrangement.
- Deng's work references Bauhaus foundation studies and early 20th-century object photography.
- The series is featured in Behance's Best of Behance gallery.
- The project demonstrates that clay material design can function without digital tools.
Entities
Artists
- TianChen Deng
Institutions
- Behance